Adjustable height keyset for stenographic machine

ABSTRACT

A stenographic machine including a housing, a stenographic processing unit in the housing, and a stenographic keyboard at the housing and operatively connected to the stenographic processing unit to record stenographic dictation by a user. The stenographic keyboard has a plurality of adjustable key assemblies pivotally connected thereto. Each key assembly has a key cap having a first removable securing portion and a stenographic keyboard key lever having a second removable securing portion cooperating with the first removable securing portion to removably hold the key cap thereat over a variety of different positions, a lever connection end having a pivoting connection attached to the stenographic keyboard to move between a steady-state raised position and a depressed lowered position, and an extension portion extending away from the second removable securing portion and to the lever connection end.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/794,783, filed on Mar. 15, 2013 the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention lies in the field of keystroke devices. In particular, theinvention is in the field of computer or stenographic keyboards andmethods and devices for adjusting a height of one or more keys of suchkeyboards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various keystroke devices exist in the art. The most prevalent keystrokedevice is a computer keyboard. The keys of a standard computer keyboardare merely switches electronically indicating only a depressed state.Therefore, no signal is output or indicated by the keyboard when akeyboard is at rest, and a signal corresponding to depressed key(s) isoutput or indicated only when at least one key is depressed sufficientlyfar to “set off” the switch of that key or the switches of that set ofkeys.

A typewriter also has a keyboard, which can be mechanical and/orelectronic. Like the computer keyboard, actuation (e.g., depression) ofa key is intended to print a character. In electronic typewriters, whena key is actuated sufficiently far, a signal is sent to a processor tohave the corresponding key(s) printed on the typing medium (e.g.,paper). Mechanical typewriters are similar to electronic typewriters,but with one significant difference. Mechanical typewriters connect thekey of the keyboard directly to the hammer containing the correspondingcharacter to be printed on the page. Such a connection typically placesthe key at the end of a lever connected to a fulcrum and, when the leveris depressed at a proximal end, the distal end of the lever forciblycontacts or causes a hammer to pivot its distal end towards the page. Aprinting ribbon is disposed between the page and the end of travel ofthe hammer and a character formed at the end of the hammer is printed onthe paper because the raised character presses the printing ribbonagainst the page.

Another keystroke device can be found on stenographic devices. The mostmodern stenographic devices are entirely electronic and virtuallyimmediately translate the stenographic key actuations into an accuratewritten representation of the spoken word. These modern devices areanalogous to the electronic typewriters and computer keyboards in that aspecific actuation of a key or set of keys will cause a printing orstorage of the corresponding character or set of characters.

Prior art stenographic keyboards all have a rear and middle row of tenkeys each and a front row of four keys, the latter being closer to thestenographer than the former. In such machines, the keys of the frontrow correspond to vowels. These keys are, in the prior art, at a levellower (closer to ground) than the two rear rows. Some prior art machinesare illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6. FIGS. 1 and 2 are views of astenographic writer manufactured by the Stenograph Corporation andcalled a Mira. As is clear from FIG. 1, the vowel keys in the front roware in a different, lower, plane than the keys in the two rear rows. TheMira has the ability to adjust key sensitivity but this adjustment isentirely mechanical, it is also inconvenient. FIG. 3 shows the top ofthe machine opened, revealing individual key sensitivity adjustmentwheels for each of the keys. Thus, in order to make any key adjustment,the top of the machine must be opened. This means that stenographicdictation cannot occur while making a key sensitivity adjustment andalso means that the screen of the Mira cannot be viewed while in thisadjustment mode. More importantly, after an adjustment has been made,the top must be closed before the user can check to see if theadjustment was adequate. So, the adjustment process must be repeated ona trial-and-error basis for each key, which can be extremelytime-consuming. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the depth-of-stroke adjustmentwheel and the tension adjustment wheel, respectively. It is noted thatthe stroke adjustment wheel is hard to reach and cannot be accessedunless the top of the machine is opened. The stroke adjustment wheel isstiff and only permits a small fraction of adjustment as compared to theentire key stroke. Practically, a user cannot type with the machinewhile an adjustment is being made. Similarly, the tension adjustmentwheel in FIG. 5 only allows a small adjustment. Again, the top of themachine must be opened, making it impractical to write with the machineat the same time that an adjustment is being made.

In stenographic machines that are used in countries outside Europe,there are additional keys to the left of the two rear rows. Theseadditional keys are at the same level as the keys in the rear two rowsand correspond to different characters that are not needed for Englishtranscription. These keys, in use, can be depressed individually ortogether. When such machines are used by United States-trainedstenographers, these keys are a distraction and/or get in the way oftheir typing. Accordingly, most machines sold in the United States donot include these keys. In other machines, such users commonly removethese keys.

FIG. 6 illustrates another prior art stenographic machine referred to asthe Treal TR, manufactured by Word Technologies. This writer is notadjustable and has plunger-activated keys. There are three holes 60shown on the left-hand side of FIG. 6 where the extra set of keys werepositioned before they were removed. These keys existed in the sameplane as the other keys of the three 10-key rear rows. Another prior artwriter similar to this machine is called the Gemini, manufactured by theNeutrino Group.

Prior art keyboards were comprised of a set of individual key assemblies21. These key assemblies 21 each contained a key pad 22 fixedlyconnected to a key lever 24. The key lever 24 was pivotally connected tothe writer to enable a keystroke when depressed. A height of each keypad 22, in the prior art key assemblies 21, was controlled only by theangle at which the key lever 24 exited the housing 26 of the writer.But, when that angle was adjusted, the upper surface of the key pad 22was no longer parallel to the remaining key pads 22. As such, individualkey pads 22 in the prior art writers were not adjustable in any way thatkept the upper surface parallel to all of the other upper surfaces ofthe key pads 22. It would, therefore, be beneficial to provide a way toadjust individual keys so that the upper key pad surface could moved upand down as desired.

As described, prior art stenographic machines have the vowel keys in thelower plane than the other keys. Many reporters, however, find it morecomfortable to write with all of the keys in the same plane. Adjustmentof the vowel keys has heretofore not been possible. Accordingly, thereporters, themselves, have taken to raise their own vowel keys byadding pads to them. But, with reporters who like to raise their vowelkeys, the heights of the keys are not consistently desired. Accordingly,it would be desirable to be able to provide adjustable-height keyshaving intermediately raised, equally raised, or even extended heightsfor the vowel keys.

Concurrently, some reporters desire to lower the height of the vowelkeys. Prior art writers, however, did not permit this without switchingout the entire key lever. It is important to note that to switch outentire such key levers the writers needed to be returned to themanufacturer. Accordingly, it would be desirable to permit the user tolower and raise the height of the keys in a custom way without returningthe device to the manufacturer every time adjustment was desired.

Thus, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art systems,designs, and processes as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides devices and methods for adjusting heights of oneor more keys of a keyboard that overcome the hereinafore-mentioneddisadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of thisgeneral type.

As set forth above, prior art stenographic machines sometimes includekeys to the left of the 10-key rows. However, these keys are used solelyfor different characters and are available only for internationalmarkets; they are not used for English transcription. The presentinvention places a single key to the left of each of the two rear rows(these keys are in the second and third rows when start of countingbegins at the front row). These two keys, in contrast to any prior artmechanism, have a top surface that is substantially lower than the topsurface of the keys in the two rear rows. In particular, the topsurfaces of these additional keys are at a level lower than the greatestdepression level of any of the keys in the two rear rows. As such, evena full depression of the two left-most keys (corresponding to the “S”phonetic sound) will not permit the wide-pinkied user to accidentallydepress either of the two additional left keys. In addition, in thenormal writing position, the user will not be able to feel these extrakeys, and, therefore, will not misplace his/her hands on the keyboard,which would result in inaccurate fingering.

The systems disclosed use these two additional keys to expand the“vocabulary” of the standard stenographic keyboard, shown, for example,in FIG. 10. With these additional keys, when any one or both aredepressed, three additional keyboards and, therefore, at least 72additional keys, can be accessed, much like the control, shift, and altkeys on a conventional computer keyboard. If a third key is added inthis new column next to the fourth (top) row key, then even more keypossibilities become available to the user. These additional keys can beused to represent any character or character set. They can also be usedin combination with other standard keys to create additional commands,much like the control, shift, and alt commands of computer keyboards.Additional keys are also necessary for some foreign stenographictheories. Even though the new keys are disposed at a level lower thanthe lowest depression level of the keys, the user can be trained to usethese new keys in a way to make available these foreign stenographictheories. Alternatively, the keys can be configured to rest at two ormore different heights depending on the user's choice. In anotheralternative exemplary embodiment, the shorter keys can be replaced withtaller keys that, when installed, have a top surface at a height equalto the top surface height of the other keys, or even higher. In thisway, foreign theories of stenography can be accommodated.

Four additional keys can increase the different possible combinations inone stenographic stroke from 2²⁴ to 2²⁷. While 2²⁴ is already a hugenumber, the practical number of combinations is much lower; it islimited by the human hand to a maximum of 20 bits out of the maximum of24 bits. The keys added by the present invention dramatically increasethe useful number of keys that can be combined into a single stroke.This increase allows the reporter to write faster because they cancreate many more practical single-stroke entries.

An additional feature of the present invention does not place the fourvowel keys of the front row in a plane lower than the keys of the tworear rows. Raising these keys produces advantages that were not providedpreviously. For example, stress on the wrist is reduced. Also, raisingthe keys makes it easier for users with small hands to reach the moredistant keys when the vowel keys are simultaneously depressed.

The keystroke device is used particularly with a stenographic orstenotype machine (e.g., for court reporters). In paper stenotypemachines, when a court reporter lightly touched a key(s), then the paperwould be printed, not with a clear print of the keystroke, but with alight or shadow keystroke. As used herein, the words “keystroke” or a“stenographic keystroke” include any possible actuation of a key deviceor set of key devices. In other words, the definition includes bothrecognized key actuations (whether for a single key or a set of morethan one key) and any unrecognized, accidental, incorrect, and/orinadvertent actuation of a single key or a set of more than one key.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, an adjustable key assembly for astenographic machine including a key cap having a first removablesecuring portion and a stenographic keyboard key lever having, a secondremovable securing portion cooperating with the first removable securingportion to removably hold the key cap thereat over a variety ofdifferent positions, a lever connection end having a pivoting connectionshaped to attach to the stenographic machine in a pivotable manner andmove between a steady-state raised position and a depressed loweredposition, and an extension portion extending away from the secondremovable securing portion and to the lever connection end.

With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided astenographic machine including a housing, a stenographic processing unitin the housing, and a stenographic keyboard at the housing andoperatively connected to the stenographic processing unit to recordstenographic dictation by a user. The stenographic keyboard has aplurality of adjustable key assemblies pivotally connected thereto. Eachkey assembly has a key cap having a first removable securing portion anda stenographic keyboard key lever having a second removable securingportion cooperating with the first removable securing portion toremovably hold the key cap thereat over a variety of differentpositions, a lever connection end having a pivoting connection attachedto the stenographic keyboard to move between a steady-state raisedposition, and a depressed lowered position, and an extension portionextending away from the second removable securing portion and to thelever connection end.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the key cap has atop surface and the first removable securing portion and the secondremovable securing portion are adjustably disposed with respect to oneanother to place the top surface of the key cap at different verticalheights with respect to ground.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the key capis a set of key caps each having a different sized first removablesecuring portion to place the key cap, when attached to the key lever,at different positions selected from at least one of a different heightand a different length.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin devices and methods for adjusting heights of one or more keys of akeyboard, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the detailsshown because various modifications and structural changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of the invention and withinthe scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally,well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will notbe described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure therelevant details of the invention.

Additional advantages and other features characteristic of the presentinvention will be set forth in the detailed description that follows andmay be apparent from the detailed description or may be learned bypractice of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Still otheradvantages of the invention may be realized by any of theinstrumentalities, methods, or combinations particularly pointed out inthe claims.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodimentsof the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to beunderstood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of theinvention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specificstructural and functional details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art tovariously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriatelydetailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are notintended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandabledescription of the invention. While the specification concludes withclaims defining the features of the invention that are regarded asnovel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood froma consideration of the following description in conjunction with thedrawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, which are not true to scale, and which, together with thedetailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of thespecification, serve to illustrate further various embodiments and toexplain various principles and advantages all in accordance with thepresent invention. Advantages of embodiments of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description of theexemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a prior art stenographicmachine from the front;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the prior art stenographicmachine of FIG. 1 from above the front;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an interior portion of theprior art stenographic machine of FIG. 1 from above the front;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of another interior portion ofthe prior art stenographic machine of FIG. 1 from above the rear;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective view of a portion of theprior art stenographic machine of FIG. 3 from above the front;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another prior artstenographic machine from above the front;

FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram of an exemplary embodiment of astenographic system according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment ofa stenographic machine according to the invention from a front leftside;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of a standard stenographickeyboard;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of an exemplaryembodiment of a key assembly according to the invention with a key padhaving a first height;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a keyboardsub-assembly of a stenographic machine according to the invention fromabove a front right side;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the keyboard sub-assembly of FIG. 11from below a front left side;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the key assembly of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a keyassembly according to the invention with a key pad having a secondheight;

FIG. 15 is a photograph of an exemplary embodiment of a key pad andfasteners according to the embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of the key assemblyof FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, perspective view of another exemplaryembodiment of a keyboard sub-assembly of a stenographic machineaccording to the invention from above a front right side;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the keyboard sub-assemblyof FIG. 17 from below a front left side;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the keyboard sub-assembly of FIG. 17from above a front;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the keyboard sub-assembly of FIG. 17from below the front;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an alternative exemplary embodiment ofa key pad, key level, and fastener keyboard sub-assembly with the keypad at a highest setting;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of sub-assembly of FIG. 21 with the keypad at an intermediate setting;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the sub-assembly of FIG. 21 with thekey pad at a lowest setting;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the sub-assembly of FIG. 21 from theopposite side of the key pad;

FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of a key lever portion of thesub-assembly of FIG. 21;

FIG. 26 is a photograph of a perspective view of the keyboardsub-assembly of FIG. 17 from above a front left with key caps for thefront and rear control keys and two vowel key caps removed;

FIG. 27 is a photograph of a perspective view of the keyboardsub-assembly of FIG. 17 from the left front side with key caps for thefour vowel key caps removed;

FIG. 28 is a photograph of a perspective view of the keyboardsub-assembly of FIG. 17 from the above a front left with the controlkeys and the vowel keys in a lowered orientation;

FIG. 29 is a photograph of a perspective view of the keyboardsub-assembly of FIG. 17 from the above a left side with the control keysand the vowel keys in a raised orientation;

FIG. 30 is a photograph of a perspective view of the keyboardsub-assembly of FIG. 17 from the left front side with the vowel keys inthe lowered orientation;

FIG. 31 is a photograph of a perspective view of the keyboardsub-assembly of FIG. 17 from the left front side with the vowel keys inan intermediate orientation;

FIG. 32 is a photograph of a perspective view of the keyboardsub-assembly of FIG. 17 from the left front side with the vowel keys inthe raised orientation;

FIG. 33 is a photograph of a perspective view of key caps;

FIG. 34 is a photograph of a perspective view of key caps; and

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of an alternative exemplary embodiment ofa modular key pad system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases usedherein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide anunderstandable description of the invention. While the specificationconcludes with claims defining the features of the invention that areregarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be betterunderstood from a consideration of the following description inconjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numeralsare carried forward.

Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spiritor the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements ofexemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detailor will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of theinvention.

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting. The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one ormore than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as twoor more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as atleast a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as usedherein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term“coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although notnecessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

Relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the likemay be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from anotherentity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actualsuch relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms“comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof are intendedto cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method,article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not includeonly those elements but may include other elements not expressly listedor inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An elementproceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints,preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

As used herein, the term “about” or “approximately” applies to allnumeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These termsgenerally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art wouldconsider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the samefunction or result). In many instances these terms may include numbersthat are rounded to the nearest significant figure.

It will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention describedherein may be comprised of one or more conventional processors andunique stored program instructions that control the one or moreprocessors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processorcircuits and other elements, some, most, or all of the functions of thepowered injector devices described herein. The non-processor circuitsmay include, but are not limited to, signal drivers, clock circuits,power source circuits, and user input and output elements.Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a statemachine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or moreapplication specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field-programmablegate arrays (FPGA), in which each function or some combinations ofcertain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, acombination of these approaches could also be used. Thus, methods andmeans for these functions have been described herein.

The terms “program,” “software,” “software application,” and the like asused herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed forexecution on a computer system. A “program,” “software,” “computerprogram,” or “software application” may include a subroutine, afunction, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, anexecutable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an objectcode, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence ofinstructions designed for execution on a computer system.

Herein various embodiments of the present invention are described. Inmany of the different embodiments, features are similar. Therefore, toavoid redundancy, repetitive description of these similar features maynot be made in some circumstances. It shall be understood, however, thatdescription of a first-appearing feature applies to the later describedsimilar feature and each respective description, therefore, is to beincorporated therein without such repetition.

Described now are exemplary embodiments of the present invention.Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first,particularly to FIG. 7 thereof, there is shown a block circuit diagramof a stenographic device according to the invention. The stenographicmachine 1 has a keyboard 10 having plurality of keystroke devices, whichare connected to an on-board proceeding unit including a microprocessor2. A memory 3 (e.g., RAM, ROM, hard drive, removable memory) isconnected to the microprocessor 2 for storing data and supplying storeddata to the microprocessor 2 and for storing and executing software. Adisplay 4 is connected to the microprocessor 2 for displayingstenographic and/or translated data and for displaying the shadowsdetermined/detected by the microprocessor 2. The microprocessor 2controls all electronic operations including receiving stenographic dataand shadow data, storing all data, and displaying all desired processes,which processes can include the stenographic and/or level data itself,indications that data is being stored, indications that data is beingtranslated, translated stenographic output, and in many others.

Depending upon the configuration of the stenographic device, atranslator 5 can be on-board the device and, therefore, it is directlyconnected to the microprocessor 2 for translating stored or incoming(real-time) stenographic data. Thus, input electronics for the keystrokedevice can be directly connected to the same processor 2 that controlsthe translation program, and the functions of input, shadowdetermination, translation, and correction/editing can be performed on asingle unit 1.

If the translator is not on board the stenographer's device 1, then thedevice 1 can be connected to an external stenographic translator 6, inwhich case the translator 6 is separate from the stenographic device 1and information stored in the memory 3 is relayed 7 either by transferthrough an intermediate media (e.g., floppy disk, CD/DVD, micro-drive,flash drive), in which case the device will have a floppy drive, CD/DVDdrive, USB port, Firewire port, etc., or wirelessly through some kind ofcommunication data link (e.g., a Bluetooth, ISDN, Internet, or otherwireless data link), in which case the device will have an on-boardtransceiver 8 or other communications device.

In either case, the translator 5, 6 translates the stenographic data tothe respective language (e.g., English). When the device 1 is associateddirectly with a translation system, translation occurs quickly so thatthe stenographer can view his/her stenographic keystrokes in almostreal-time and in relatively understandable English (dependent upon thequality of the word/translation processor). The memory 3 will store thetranslation locally 3, 11 and/or externally 7, 9.

FIG. 7 further illustrates the stenographic device 1 and an embodiment 9for connecting the device to an external stenographic translator 6. Inthe example of FIG. 7, the translator 6 is connected to the Internet andis housed at a location different from the stenographer's location. Insuch a networked configuration, the transceiver 8 can utilize abi-directional data channel to transmit the un-translated stenographicdata to the external translating computer 6 (represented by the dashedarrows), whether in real time or delayed. The translating computer 6can, then, translate the stenographic data and transmit a translateddata stream back to the device immediately or at a later time and to anyother device that can be connected (directly or wirelessly) to thetranslating computer (also represented by the dashed arrows). Thus, thestenographer can have almost real-time analysis even without having anon-board translator.

One example of such a system 9 provides the stenographic device 1 with aconnection (e.g., a direct or wireless transceiver 8) to the Internetand the external translating computer 6 with a connection (direct orwireless) also to the Internet. Thus, commonly available Internetconnection devices available at the location where the stenographer istaking data can be used to facilitate quick and inexpensive translationof stenographic data without having to store the translation software onthe stenographer's machine 1.

When the device 1 has an integrated word processing system, then thefunctions of dictation, translation, and editing of the translation canbe performed by the stenographer on a single machine.

The device 1 can also include a multi-media recorder 11 that can store,in an on-board memory or the memory 3, digital video images and/or audiodata. By recording the audio and/or video of the subject(s) of thestenographer on the device, it becomes possible to associate a portionof a multi-media file with a stenographic stroke. Such recording andcoordination of stenographic and video and/or audio data allows thestenographer to playback images of and/or sounds from the subject toassist in the accurate translation of the stenographic keystrokes. Suchmulti-media data can also be transmitted to other computers and/orlocations through network connections, for example, over the Internet,by wireless connections, such as Bluetooth, by direct connections, suchas RS-232, universal serial bus, IRDA, Firewire, or by any otheravailable data communications measures to assist the stenographer inaccurate translation of the stenographic data.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a first embodiment of a stenographicwriter 1 described herein. The writer 1 has a housing 12 and astenographic keyboard 10. The keys shown in FIG. 8 are illustrated intheir normal rest state or undepressed state. A conventionalstenographic keyboard has four rows, the front row 16 having four keyscorresponding to vowels and two rear rows 20, 30 of ten keys each asshown in FIG. 9. The two left-most keys correspond to the same letterand, therefore, are shown in FIG. 9 as a single key. On traditionalmachines, an “S” is produced whether the reporter presses the key in thesecond row or the third row because these keys are tied together—theyare essentially one key. By adding at least one additional key in thepresent invention, the reporter has the option of defining every otherkey differently, if depression of that key changes the state of one ormore other keys. The benefits arise by splitting the “S” key into twokeys at the far left-hand side of the keyboard 10. See, e.g., FIG. 8.The inventive keyboard also employs the same separation with theasterisk key, located at the middle of the keyboard 10. On traditionalmachines, although it might appear that there are two keys in themiddle, they are, in fact, tied together and generate the same code.

The fourth row 40 of keys can take any form but is, commonly, a singlekey having a width equal to the ten adjacent keys of the rear rows 20,30. This single key 40 can, in another exemplary embodiment, be a set ofkeys as shown in FIG. 8, each having a separate correspondingdefinition. As used herein with respect to the keys of the keyboard 10,“rear” is a position that is further away from the user than keys in the“front” of the keyboard 10.

With respect to FIGS. 8 and 9, the four vowel keys are shown in a frontor first row 16 and, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, they arepositioned in a conventional lower orientation or position. Here,“lower” is used as a relative word to compare the top surface of thekeys in the first row 16 to the top surface of the keys in the second,third, and fourth rows 20, 30, 40, the top surfaces of which are all atthe same height.

The keyboard 10 described herein includes a novel new side column 50 oftwo additional keys 52 and 54, which are referred to herein as controlkeys.

The keys in the second, third, and fourth rows 20, 30, 40 can each bedepressed to a lower-most position. The top surface of these keys, whenin this lower-most position, is higher than the top surface of thecontrol keys 52, 54 when the control keys 52, 54 are not depressed. Assuch, when the left-most keys in either of the second, third, and fourthrows 20, 30, 40 are depressed, a finger that is on the left edge willnot be able to depress either of the two control keys 52, 54. In otherwords, the user must make a conscious decision to depress either or bothof the control 52, 54 keys.

The control keys 52, 54 have various uses in the described writer 1. Oneexemplary use expands the “vocabulary” of the stenographic keyboarddefined by the first to fourth rows 16, 20, 30, 40. With the controlkeys 52, 54, when any one or both are depressed, three additionalkeyboards can be accessed. Therefore, using the programming of thecontrol system of the writer 1 to assign a different definition to eachkey when either the first control key 52, the second control key 54, orboth control keys 52, 54 are depressed adds 72 additional keys to thetwenty-four key original keyboard.

The control keys 52, 54 can be configured as press-on/press-off keys sothat, when pressed once, they turn on and, upon a second press, theyturn off. This feature is beneficial, for example, if non-activation ofthe keys 52, 54 is an English keyboard where activation of one of thetwo control keys 52, 54 turns the keyboard into a Spanish keyboard. Thepress-on/press-off function can be either mechanical or electronic. Morespecifically, once pressed, the key can stay depressed until it ispressed a second time, where it will physically return to its originalstarting height. Alternatively, in the electronic embodiment, once thekey is depressed once, a “flag,” or bit is set, indicating thetransition from a rest state to the depressed state. In this electronicexemplary embodiment, although the key physically returns to thestarting rest state, the status of the key is “depressed.” To return thekey to its original state, the key is transitioned again from the reststate, to the depressed state, and back to the rest state.

The novel keyboard 10 is comprised of a set of individual key assemblies100 shown, for example, in FIGS. 8, 10, 13 and 14. Like prior art keyassemblies 21, the key assemblies 100 of the invention shown in FIG. 8each contain a key pad 82 fixedly connected to a key lever 84 with thekey lever 84 being pivotally connected to the writer 1 to enable akeystroke when depressed. This is where the similarity ends. A height ofeach key pad 82, however, is not controlled only by the angle at whichthe key lever 84 exited the housing 12 of the writer 1. Rather, eachindividual key pad 82 is adjustable in a way that keeps the uppersurface parallel to all of the other upper surfaces of the key pads 82.

FIG. 10 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a single keystrokeassembly 100 to be used in the inventive keyboard 10, e.g., a keyboardof a stenographic writer 1. The keystroke assembly 100 has a key lever102 and a key pad 104 having a contact surface 106 at which a userimparts the force for activating the keystroke assembly 100. The key pad104 is connected to a proximal end 103 of the key lever 102. The keylever 102 is connected movably to a key-retaining device 110 (see FIGS.11 and 12) at a pivot point 120. The key lever 102 defines a pivot area130 disposed between a distal portion 132 of the key lever 102 and theproximal end 103 of the key lever 102. The key lever 102 has anon-illustrated bias device (e.g., a spring) imparting a force upon thekey lever 102 to keep the contact surface 106 raised, i.e., in anon-actuated position. To impart a raising force to the key lever 102,the spring is oriented so that the force imparted on the key lever 102rotates the proximal end 103 counter-clockwise with respect to FIGS. 10and 12 to 14 about the pivot point 120. The configuration of the biasdevice can take any form and the direction of force imparted by biasingspring can be in any direction so long as the contact surface 106 israised when not activated and biases the key back to the raised positionafter being actuated. (The described configuration, of course, assumesthat the keystroke assembly 100 is to be actuated by a loweringmovement. Force in the opposite direction applies if the keystrokeassembly 100 is to be lifted by a user.)

Height adjustability of each key pad 104 is accomplished in an exemplaryembodiment shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15. Here, instead ofhaving the key pad 104 fixed to the key lever 102 (e.g., integrally), aremovable connection 108 is provided. This removable connection 108 cantake any form. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the proximal end 103of the key lever 102 forms a tab that is inserted into a groove of ahollow boss 105 projecting downward from the lower surface of the keypad 104. Fasteners 109 (here in the exemplary form of bolts) removablyconnect the key pad 104 to the key lever 102. It is noted that theheight of the exemplary boss 105 in FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13 is slightlylarger than the head of the fastener 109 and, therefore, provides afirst “low” key pad height. In contrast thereto, the boss 145 shownprojecting from the key pads 144 illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 16 to 20 ismuch longer and, therefore, provides a second “high” key pad height.These two exemplary embodiments of the key pads illustrate how easily amodular set of key pads can be created and used to customize each andevery keystroke assembly 100 of the inventive stenographic keyboard. Theexemplary embodiments of the key pad attachments shown are not the onlypossibilities for attaching the key pad 104, 144 to the key lever 102.Further, the key assemblies 100 are envisioned not only for use on thevowel keys 16, but for all keys, 20, 30, 40 on the stenographic keyboard10.

FIGS. 26 to 31 illustrate various configurations of the interchangeablekey caps 104, 144, 2100 in the installed and removed states. FIG. 26shows the key caps for the front and rear control keys 54, 52,respectively, removed as well as the “A” and “O” key caps removed. The“E” and “U” key caps are shown in the lowered orientation. FIG. 27 showsall of the vowel key caps removed. FIG. 28 shows all key caps installedin a lowered orientation and with the front and rear control keys 54,52, respectively, in the lowered orientation. FIG. 29, in contrast,shows the front and rear control keys 54, 52, respectively, in a raisedorientation even with the keys in the respective consonant rows 20, 30.Here, too, the vowel key caps are shown in the raised orientation. FIGS.30 to 32 illustrate the difference in height of the lowered (FIG. 30),the intermediate (FIG. 31), and the raised (FIG. 32) orientations forthe vowel key caps.

A standard fourth row bar 40 extends from the “S” key on the left to the“D” key on the right as shown in FIG. 9. It is noted, however, that someembodiments described herein include the additional control keys, suchas those shown in FIGS. 12, 17 to 20, 26, 28, and 29. With the controlkeys, the standard fourth row bar 40 would not extend all the way to thecontrol keys. The configuration shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, however, showthe inventive fourth row bar 40 extending leftward so that it liesbehind the third row control key just at it lies behind the other thirdrow consonant keys. By extending the fourth row bar 40, the bar 40 canbe pressed in conjunction with the control key that is immediately infront of it, using the same finger.

As can be seen from the key arms in FIGS. 26 and 27, they are parallelto one another yet the keys on the two rows 20, 30 are aligned with oneanother from front to back. This is accomplished by connecting the keycaps to the key arms at respective right or left sides of the bottomsurfaces. The mirror image connection bosses are illustrated best inFIGS. 32 and 33, showing key caps from each of the two consonant rows20, 30 and the vowel row 16.

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated, the fasteners 109 pass throughholes in the key levers 102, 142. If the holes were slots, then thefasteners 109 could be loosened so that the user could individuallyadjust the key pads 104, 144 to any desired height. Also, if the slotswere circular segments having a centerpoint at the opposing connection(e.g., screw), then the key pads 104, 144 could be tilted, if desired bythe stenographer, by loosening one screw and pivoting the key pad 104,144 about the other screw. Also, a plurality of screw holes 107, eitherindividual or pairs, can be added to those shown to permit differentheights for the key pads 104, 144 as desired. One exemplary embodimentof the multiple screw holes 107 is depicted in FIGS. 21 to 25, wheremultiple rows of holes 1107 exist on the key cap 2100 and one row ofholes 1107 exists on the key lever 2110. In an alternativenon-illustrated configuration, the multiple rows of holes 1107 can existon the key lever 2110 and one row of holes 1107 can exist on the key cap2100. As a further alternative, multiple rows can exist on both. Twoholes are not required in these embodiments, they are only examples. Itis found, however, that multiple securing points provide greaterstability than just a single securing point, but one is envisioned aswell.

As an alternative to the key lever 102, 142 having a bend (e.g., anapproximately 90-degree bend as shown in FIGS. 10 to 25), it is alsopossible to configure the key pad 104, 144 to have the bend itself andthe tab would be at a distal end of a straight key lever 102, 142.

As discussed above, the writer 1 has extra keys, for example, the twocontrol keys on the left-hand side of the keyboard 10. The inventivekeys here are envisioned to apply the height adjustable embodiments tothis keyboard 10 as well so the reporter can adjust each key as desired.

In addition to providing the key pads mentioned herein with adjustableheights, the key levers can be made adjustable to provide the user withadjustable key lever lengths. Also, to provide such longer key leverswithout having to replace the lever, the 90-degree bend can be part ofthe key pad 104, 144 with the holes 107 moved towards the distal portion132 of the key lever 102 (as shown with the dashed line 111 in FIG. 10).Then, the adjustable and/or removable key pad/lever portions (notillustrated) could be easily changed by the user for custom key leverlengths. For example, one user might prefer a longer (closer to thereporter) vowel key in an embodiment where the vowel keys are raised tohave an upper surface at the same level as the other keys. This occurswhen the user does not want to stretch his/her thumbs far, which doesnot occur if the vowel keys are in the same plane. Reporters with largehands have indicated, for example, that they have to “scrunch up” theirthumbs to keep them from going past the end of raised vowel keys, whichhappens when their thumbs are extended.

Another non-illustrated way to raise and lower the key caps is with aratcheting or click-stop connection that allows the user to move the keycap up and down after raising or pressing in a tab that unlocks theratchet.

Yet another way to provide key caps that can be raised and lowered iswith a modular system 3500 of keys caps 3510 shown, for example, in FIG.35. Only the key pad (e.g., 82) of a standard key lever that connects toa stenographic machine is illustrated in FIG. 35. The modular keycap3500 is actually a snap-on attachment to an end platform 3510 formed bythe key pad 82. These snap-on keycaps 3500 can be made with varyingheights H, only one of which is shown in FIG. 35. In this exemplaryconfiguration, the keycap 3500 simply snaps onto the platform 3510 ontop of a key arm. Because the spacing between the keys of a stenographickeyboard is small, the keycaps 3500 snap on from the side rather thansnapping on from the front of the key. These keycaps 3500, for example,can be used easily on the four vowel keys 16 at the bottom of thekeyboard and on the extra keys on the far left of the inventivekeyboard. Because there is no adjacent key on one side of each of thosekeys, the keycap 3500 does not create any interference. These keycaps3500 both snap on from the left and snap on from the right of a keyplatform 3510.

With this exemplary embodiment, the keycaps 3500 are also a littlelonger than the original keycaps. This can be a benefit for the vowelkeys 16 on the front of the stenographic machine because, when thesekeys 16 are raised from their lower orientation, the reach to them withthe thumbs of the user is shortened. It is, therefore, possible forreporters to “overshoot” standard-length vowel keys in the raisedorientation, which does not occur if they are lengthened somewhat, forexample, by the keycaps 3500.

It is noted that various individual features of the inventive processesand systems may be described only in one exemplary embodiment herein.The particular choice for description herein with regard to a singleexemplary embodiment is not to be taken as a limitation that theparticular feature is only applicable to the embodiment in which it isdescribed. All features described herein are equally applicable to,additive, or interchangeable with any or all of the other exemplaryembodiments described herein and in any combination or grouping orarrangement. In particular, use of a single reference numeral herein toillustrate, define, or describe a particular feature does not mean thatthe feature cannot be associated or equated to another feature inanother drawing figure or description. Further, where two or morereference numerals are used in the figures or in the drawings, thisshould not be construed as being limited to only those embodiments orfeatures, they are equally applicable to similar features or not areference numeral is used or another reference numeral is omitted.

The phrase “at least one of A and B” is used herein and/or in thefollowing claims, where A and B are variables indicating a particularobject or attribute. When used, this phrase is intended to and is herebydefined as a choice of A or B or both A and B, which is similar to thephrase “and/or”. Where more than two variables are present in such aphrase, this phrase is hereby defined as including only one of thevariables, any one of the variables, any combination of any of thevariables, and all of the variables.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate theprinciples, exemplary embodiments, and modes of operation of theinvention. However, the invention should not be construed as beinglimited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additionalvariations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art and the above-described embodiments should beregarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it shouldbe appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable key assembly for a stenographicmachine, comprising: a key cap having at least one first screw hole; anda stenographic keyboard key lever having: at least one second screw holecooperating with the at least one first screw hole to removably hold thekey cap thereat over a variety of different positions; a leverconnection end having a pivoting connection shaped to attach to thestenographic machine in a pivotable manner and move between asteady-state raised position and a depressed lowered position; and anextension portion extending away from the second screw hole and to thelever connection end; and at least one fastener removably securing theat least one first screw hole of the key cap with the at least onesecond screw hole of the key lever.
 2. The assembly according to claim1, wherein: the key cap has a top surface; and the at least one firstand second screw holes are adjustably disposed with respect to oneanother to place the top surface of the key cap at different verticalheights with respect to ground.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1,wherein the key cap is a set of key caps each having a different firstscrew hole to place the key cap, when attached to the key lever, atdifferent positions selected from at least one of a different height anda different length.
 4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: theat least one second screw hole of the key lever is a slot; and the keycap is tilted by pivoting about the at least one fastener.
 5. Theassembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first screw holecomprises at least one first screw hole pair and the at least one secondscrew hole comprises at least one second screw hole pair.
 6. Theassembly of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second screwhole pairs comprises a plurality of screw hole pairs situated inmultiple rows.
 7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein thestenographic keyboard key lever comprises an approximately 90-degreebend.
 8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the stenographickeyboard key lever is a straight key lever having a distal end; the keycap comprises a bend; and the key cap is attached at the distal end ofthe straight key lever.
 9. A stenographic machine, comprising: ahousing; a stenographic processing unit in the housing; and astenographic keyboard at the housing and operatively connected to thestenographic processing unit to record stenographic dictation by a user,the stenographic keyboard having a plurality of adjustable keyassemblies pivotally connected thereto, each key assembly having: a keycap having at least one first screw hole; and a stenographic keyboardkey lever having: at least one second screw hole cooperating with the atleast one first screw hole to removably hold the key cap thereat over avariety of different positions; a lever connection end having a pivotingconnection attached to the stenographic keyboard to move between asteady-state raised position and a depressed lowered position; and anextension portion extending away from the second screw hole and to thelever connection end; and at least one fastener removably securing theat least one first screw hole of the key cap with the at least onesecond screw hole of the key lever.
 10. The stenographic machineaccording to claim 9, wherein: the key cap has a top surface; and the atleast one first and second screw holes are adjustably disposed withrespect to one another to place the top surface of the key cap atdifferent vertical heights with respect to ground.
 11. The stenographicmachine according to claim 9, wherein the key cap is a set of key capseach having a different first screw hole to place the key cap, whenattached to the key lever, at different positions selected from at leastone of a different height and a different length.
 12. The stenographicmachine according to claim 9, wherein: the at least one second screwhole of the key lever is a slot; and the key cap is tilted by pivotingabout the at least one fastener.
 13. The stenographic machine accordingto claim 9, wherein the at least one first screw hole comprises at leastone first screw hole pair and the at least one second screw holecomprises at least one second screw hole pair.
 14. The stenographicmachine according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first andsecond screw hole pairs comprises a plurality of screw hole pairssituated in multiple rows.
 15. The stenographic machine according toclaim 9, wherein the stenographic keyboard key lever comprises anapproximately 90-degree bend.
 16. The stenographic machine according toclaim 9, wherein: the stenographic keyboard key lever is a straight keylever having a distal end; the key cap comprises a bend; and the key capis attached at the distal end of the straight key lever.
 17. Anadjustable key assembly for a stenographic machine, comprising: a keycap having at least one first screw hole and a top surface; and astenographic keyboard key lever having: at least one second screw holecooperating with the first screw hole to removably hold the key capthereat over a variety of different positions, the first screw hole andthe second screw hole being adjustably disposed with respect to oneanother to place the top surface of the key cap at different verticalheights with respect to ground; a lever connection end; and an extensionportion extending away from the second screw hole and to the leverconnection end; and at least one fastener removably securing the atleast one first screw hole of the key cap with the at least one secondscrew hole of the key lever.
 18. The assembly according to claim 17,wherein: the at least one second screw hole of the key lever is a slot;and the key cap is tilted by pivoting about the at least one fastener.19. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein the at least one firstscrew hole comprises at least one first screw hole pair and the at leastone second screw hole comprises at least one second screw hole pair. 20.The assembly according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the firstand second screw hole pairs comprises a plurality of screw hole pairssituated in multiple rows.
 21. The assembly according to claim 17,wherein the at least one first screw hole comprises a plurality of firstscrew hole pairs situated in multiple rows and the at least one secondscrew hole comprises a plurality of second screw hole pairs situated inmultiple rows.
 22. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein thestenographic keyboard key lever comprises an approximately 90-degreebend.
 23. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein: the stenographickeyboard key lever is a straight key lever having a distal end; the keycap comprises a bend; and the key cap is attached at the distal end ofthe straight key lever.